Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:36pm on 11 Oct 2025,Saturday International
Hamas is demanding Israel include prominent Palestinian prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat, in a prisoner-release list as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal. Israel's justice ministry published 250 names but excluded seven high-profile prisoners serving sentences for deadly attacks. Twenty Israeli hostages are expected for release Monday under the Trump-brokered deal ending the two-year Gaza war. Barghouti, serving five life sentences, remains the most popular Palestinian leader in opinion polls. US envoy Steve Witkoff promised raising the exclusion issue with Netanyahu, but Israel firmly refused. Hamas also wants prisoners from the previous Gilad Shalit exchange excluded from the 250-count. The ceasefire's first phase began Friday with partial Israeli withdrawal. (PC: X)
